FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 5, 2007

HACU’s 21st Annual Conference to highlight recruitment, retention of Hispanic Students

San Antonio, Texas--The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 21st Annual Conference, “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: A National Imperative for the 21st Century,” will feature a stellar roster of speakers showcasing the latest trends and best practices in Hispanic higher education on Oct. 20-22, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois.

The conference tracks include: Recruitment and Retention of Hispanic Students; Challenges for Hispanic Education; Advocacy and Legislation-Higher Education; and International Higher Education. “We hope that the participants will come away understanding the importance of Hispanic higher education issues and at the same time benefit from a tremendous opportunity to network, forge cost-effective partnerships, and learn about new public and private sector education funding opportunities,” said Antonio Flores, President and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities.

Highlights of the conference will include:

  • The Latino/a Leadership Institute – a sold-out pre-conference event that will focus on addressing the need to re-fill the pipeline with the next generation of Latino and Latina faculty, staff and administrators, Oct. 20, 8 a.m-4 p.m.  
  • A Career Fair Exhibit will feature employment, internship and scholarship opportunities for job seekers and college students. The Career Fair is free and open to the public on Sunday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Jesse Ruiz, Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, will speak at the power lunch, Oct. 21 at noon. 
  • An International Plenary, Hispanic Higher Education: Its Role in Shaping our Future, will bring together leaders from Latin America and Spain to share their perspective on how to make Hispanic higher education successful. The panel of experts will include: Keynote Speaker - Ambassador Arturo Sarukhán Casamitjana, Embassy of México in the USA; Dr. Miguel Martínez López, Education and Science Commissioner, Embassy of Spain in the USA; and Dr. Julio Miguel Martín Puertas, Rector, Universidad Autónoma de Asunción—Paraguay. The moderator will be Prof. Agnes Mojica, Chancellor, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, San Germán, Oct. 22, 9-10:15 a.m.
  • A lively Town Hall Meeting on the topic of Immigration Reform will be held Oct. 22, 3:45-5 p.m. Joshua W. Hoyt, Executive Director, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, will be among the speakers.

 For information on Career Fair Exhibitors, or registration for HACU’s 21th Annual Conference, visit www.hacu.net.

 

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The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, California.

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